Afghan women's lives worse than ever

[[_KaNdii_]]

Reading this stuff makes me sick:




Women's Lives Worse Than Ever
By Terri Judd
The Independent UK

Monday 25 February 2008

Grinding poverty and the escalating war is driving an increasing number of Afghan families to sell their daughters into forced marriages.

Girls as young as six are being married into a life of slavery and rape, often by multiple members of their new relatives. Banned from seeing their own parents or siblings, they are also prohibited from going to school. With little recognition of the illegality of the situation or any effective recourse, many of the victims are driven to self-immolation - burning themselves to death - or severe self-harm.

Six years after the US and Britain "freed" Afghan women from the oppressive Taliban regime, a new report proves that life is just as bad for most, and worse in some cases.

Projects started in the optimistic days of 2002 have begun to wane as the UK and its Nato allies fail to treat women's rights as a priority, workers in the country insist.

The statistics in the report from Womankind, Afghan Women and Girls Seven Years On, make shocking reading. Violent attacks against females, usually domestic, are at epidemic proportions with 87 per cent of females complaining of such abuse - half of it sexual. More than 60 per cent of marriages are forced.

Despite a new law banning the practice, 57 per cent of brides are under the age of 16. The illiteracy rate among women is 88 per cent with just 5 per cent of girls attending secondary school.

Maternal mortality rates - one in nine women dies in childbirth - are the highest in the world alongside Sierra Leone. And 30 years of conflict have left more than one million widows with no enforceable rights, left to beg on the streets alongside an increasing number of orphans. Afghanistan is the only country in the world with a higher suicide rate among women than men.

Campaigners say these are nationwide figures but in war-torn provinces, such as Helmand, the British area of responsibility, oppression is often worse, though the dangers make it impossible for them to monitor it accurately.

The banned practice of offering money for a girl is still rampant - along with exchanging her as restitution for crime, debt or dispute. With the going price for a child bride at £800 to £2,000 - as much as three years salary for a labourer - many grooms are forced to take loans or swap their sisters instead, explained Partawmina Hashemee, the director of the Afghan Women Resource Centre.

Mrs Hashemee, who has fought for the rights of her fellow Afghan women, initially for refugees in Pakistan, for almost 20 years, said: "For me the issue that breaks my heart is the forced marriages because of poverty - even girls as young as eight. They don't get to go to school or to go out. They are told 'you are not allowed to visit your family, we paid, now you have to work'."

In 2007 a law was passed banning marriage under 16, but Mrs Hashemee said: "The majority of people are not even aware of it. Early age marriages are increasing."

The vast majority of international aid goes directly to the Afghan government rather than non-governmental organisations. Activists are calling on the British to ring-fence some of the funding for human rights issues - such as gender-based projects - and to ensure the money reaches appropriate beneficiaries.

Mrs Hashemee said, in Kabul at least, there had been greater recognition of women's rights over the past seven years as well as major civil and political gains since the fall of the Taliban. But it remains a dangerous environment and female MPs, activists and journalists still live under constant threat of death.

Womankind is calling for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which says women in conflict zones should be offered protection and recognition of their role in the peace process as well as their human rights. Across Afghanistan women's organisations, such as Mrs Hashemee's, are now turning their attention from providing basic needs to empowering females, teaching them their rights and urging them to vote.

Often illiterate women are instructed on how Islam views women as equal. Training is offered to young men in why sexual abuse is wrong. Communities are being "mobilised" to fight for and monitor women's rights - encouraging mullahs to promote the equality that the Koran teaches.

But there are no women's rights associations in Helmand. The closest is one courageous group working in another southern province, Kandahar. Yet Mrs Hashemee is positive. She said: "I don't want to be disappointed. We will struggle on and hopefully the government and international community will help."

In a report this month the chairman of the International Development Committee, Malcolm Bruce MP, said: "There is a dangerous tendency to accept in Afghanistan practices which would not be countenanced elsewhere, because of 'cultural' differences and local traditions.

"We believe that the rights of women should be upheld equally in all countries. The government of Afghanistan has a vital role to play in this by ensuring that the international human rights commitments which it has made are fully honoured and given greater priority."

The report: http://www.womankind.org.uk/upload/Womankind%20Taking%20Stock%20-%20Spring%202008.pdf

[Dizzyfool]

That really is terrible, I had no idea the situation was so ugly.

[SetuT]

Yeah our brave 'Allied Powers' really kick ass at this whole 'state-building' stuff aye?

[ineed<3]

the worst thing is, that people think that they'll lead a better life in a foreign country. but the damn husband is always a fucking dick

argh them fucking sandy balled cousin fucking numbskull obnoxious afghans.

[Look-Ka Py Py]

That really is terrible, I had no idea the situation was so ugly.

me neither. It's awful, it's bad that nobody knows how terrible situations are in other countries.

[War-Mech]

Yeah our brave 'Allied Powers' really kick ass at this whole 'state-building' stuff aye?

it is really gonna take a long time to change this and the change will be gradual. . .  imagin you have to change societies mind form women being equated to cattle and a man has property rights to her all the way to some sense of "freedom"

[Jihad]

Six years after the US and Britain "freed" Afghan women from the oppressive Taliban regime, a new report proves that life is just as bad for most, and worse in some cases.

[The Wiseman]

it is really gonna take a long time to change this and the change will be gradual. . .  imagin you have to change societies mind form women being equated to cattle and a man has property rights to her all the way to some sense of "freedom"

The social-democratic regime, the PDPA, in Afganistan had worked towards woman's rights and education until the U.S. began its destabilization campaign backing the repressive mujahideen in the late 70s. For the first time Afghan women saw a glimpse of freedom and the U.S. support for the fundamentalist war lords and tribes dampered their hopes. The U.S. occupation will not work towards any form of change in the interest of Afghanistan's women, it has consistently made its geopolitical and economic interests the single concern.

[SetuT]

it is really gonna take a long time to change this and the change will be gradual. . .  imagin you have to change societies mind form women being equated to cattle and a man has property rights to her all the way to some sense of "freedom"

Funny, Afghanistan was one of the progressive states in the region before the West-supported Taliban took control. Now that 'communist threat' is gone mofos wanna talk about human rights.

[[_KaNdii_]]

A great overview by MADRE:

Iraq: Five Years of "Liberation" and an Epidemic of Violence Against Women
Unleashing a Campaign of Violence

* Since the US invasion of 2003, Iraqi women have endured a public campaign of harassment, beatings, abduction, rape, and assassinations.
* The main perpetrators are militia fighters who see violence against women as a way to enforce their vision of Iraq as an Islamist state.
* Anyone perceived to challenge that vision is in danger from the militias. Women professionals, artists, intellectuals, lesbians, and human rights activists have been specifically targeted.

Revoking Women's Rights

* The largest Islamist militias are the armed wings of Iraqi political parties brought to power by the US.
* In 2003, US authorities hand-picked Islamist leaders to sit on the Iraqi Governing Council. The Council was presented in the US as the gateway to Iraqi democracy, yet these US appointees openly declared their intent to restrict women's rights.
* Once empowered, Islamists quickly moved to rescind Iraq's 1959 family law which guaranteed women equal rights in crucial areas of life.
* They also produced a constitution—with strong backing from the US—that discriminates against women in numerous ways.

Arming the Killers

* In 2005, under a policy called the "Salvador Option," the Pentagon began providing money, weapons, and military training to Shiite militias known to attack women wherever they patrolled.
* Since early 2007, the US has also funded Sunni militias, including groups that murder women who do not dress or behave to their liking.

Fighting Back

Five years of occupation have demonstrated that the Bush Administration's rhetoric about "liberating" Iraqi women was never more than an excuse for invading Iraq.

Many secular Iraqi women and men reject both the violence of US occupation and the repression of Islamist ideology. Unlike the Bush Administration, they have a vision of a multi-cultural, pluralistic Iraq grounded in genuine democracy and human rights. They share the broad progressive values of many in the anti-war movement and they deserve our support.

To learn more about the perspectives of Iraqi women, check out:

    * The Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI)
    * City of Widows, a new book by Iraqi activist and author Haifa Zangana
    * Riverbend, author of Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog from Iraq

http://madre.org/articles/me/iraqfactsheet031908.html

[kittenslayer]

Of course we will never see this kind of news on the "New Zealand Herald".  It's always "more violence from Taliban and insurgent attacks is causing all the problems".

[War-Mech]

The social-democratic regime, the PDPA, in Afganistan had worked towards woman's rights and education until the U. S.  began its destabilization campaign backing the repressive mujahideen in the late 70s.  For the first time Afghan women saw a glimpse of freedom and the U. S.  support for the fundamentalist war lords and tribes dampered their hopes.  The U. S.  occupation will not work towards any form of change in the interest of Afghanistan's women, it has consistently made its geopolitical and economic interests the single concern. 

you are correct however at the time US had more to gain form hard lined fundamentalists.  now the goal is more or less controled but not devepling afganistan.  The usual methods of the first two line of contol fail.  first being the corporate/business/economy second being the CIA intel.  thus the army moved in.  im not sure women right will ever excist where lots of guys with guns are running around :D

[Bob]

you are correct however at the time US had more to gain form hard lined fundamentalists.

Are you kidding? Please familiarize how the Mujahadeen got in power. They armed, hell developed with Israel, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, establishing a largely foreign-led militant group:

They [Reagen Admin] went beyond supporting them. They organized them. They collected radical Islamists from around the world, the most violent, crazed elements they could find, and tried to forge them into a military force in Afghanistan. You could argue that would have been legitimate if it had been for the purpose of defending Afghanistan. Link

I suggest you to refer to Chomsky's primary sources which are plentiful.

now the goal is more or less controled but not devepling afganistan.  The usual methods of the first two line of contol fail.  first being the corporate/business/economy second being the CIA intel.  thus the army moved in.

When the hell did the US, or even the West develop anyone but their own? Never. They are actually more akin to viruses, infecting every region they occupy.

im not sure women right will ever excist where lots of guys with guns are running around

Please provide the source for your claim. If not, fall back. Because as was said by Wiseman, a secular regime was present in Afghanistan.

In fact if you're familiar with Afghan culture, you'd note that the ideology of the Mujahideen was largely foreign. The largely Dari and Pakhtoon peoples in the region are Indo-Iranian in terms of culture, which obviously doesn't mesh with the Arab top brass of the Mujahideen.

Last, but not least:  this assumption displays racism on the side. Do not assume that this state in Afghanistan is natural when that is not the case. The Western hand in the development of tyrannical regimes is not just unique to Afghanistan, but throughout the Middle East:

In 1967, Israel performed an enormous service for the United States, for the tyrannies that run the oil producers, for the energy corporations, a major service. They destroyed secular Arab nationalism. Now secular Arab nationalism was a terrible danger because it was threatening to use the resources in the region for its own people. [...] Link

The same could be said about Iran, which saw a democratically-elected secular government led Prime Minister Mossadegh which was toppled by UK and US (Operation Ajax).

[War-Mech]

i think you missunderstood what i was trying to say.  US political and military involvment anywhere in the world is and always will be for the best benifit of the US as a country/govt.  (not to be confused with people in US) expectation that intentions are anythign but that is naive or missguided by different soucres. 
The question really is y should anything else be expected of them?

[Bob]

i think you missunderstood what i was trying to say.  US political and military involvment anywhere in the world is and always will be for the best benifit of the US as a country/govt.  (not to be confused with people in US) expectation that intentions are anythign but that is naive or missguided by different soucres.   
The question really is y should anything else be expected of them?

Correct. US along with the West are leading practitioners of state terror. I decided to reply, just to ensure that we understand where this variant of sexism arose from. While sexism have existed in nations like Afghanistan (ala Western nations), the development we see in the Middle East are due to foreign sources. 

I am only pointing this out, because it's obvious that the state of women rights in the Middle East attracts attention in the Western. However, instead of putting direct blame on Western imperialism, we're seeing religion as the sole reason force behind this reality. And don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of religion, but projection of this myth won't take us anywhere.

[kittenslayer]

Correct. US along with the West are leading practitioners of state terror. I decided to reply, just to ensure that we understand where this variant of sexism arose from. While sexism have existed in nations like Afghanistan (ala Western nations), the development we see in the Middle East are due to foreign sources. 

I am only pointing this out, because it's obvious that the state of women rights in the Middle East attracts attention in the Western. However, instead of putting direct blame on Western imperialism, we're seeing religion as the sole reason force behind this reality. And don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of religion, but projection of this myth won't take us anywhere.

You forgot to mention Rev78

[Revolutionary78]

You forgot to mention Rev78

So now Im sexist. Wow this is really getting out of hand.